It’s 8 PM on Sunday night in downtown Buffalo. A group of girls are milling about outside the Mohawk Place waiting for doors to open.
“I’m taking a picture of Voxtrot’s trailer!” one of them shrieks as the others anxiously await the chance to see their favorite band in person.
This scene played out in various forms throughout the night during Voxtrot’s stop in Buffalo with Au Revoir Simone and Favourite Sons. Voxtrot’s intensely loyal fan base has until recently been built mainly through word of mouth and web. A glance at their MySpace page (a must have for any up and coming band these days) reveals swarms of comments ranging from ‘your music changed my life’ to ‘you’re totally my band crush of the year’ (in addition to good music, they’ve got that ‘not only are they talented but they’re cute hipsters too’ look going for them). Prior to the release of their current self-titled album via Beggars Group/Playlouder, the recording process was broadcast in an eight-part documentary titled Reaching for the Lasers on YouTube.
A trio of ladies from Brooklyn, Au Revoir Simone opened the night with a soothing and melodic set of keyboards, vocals and drum machines, easing the audience into the evening with a sweet demeanor and pleasantries in between songs. Favourite Sons was up next with a powerful sound anchored by the unique and emotive voice of native Irishman Ken Griffin. They were probably the most mature sounding band on the bill and provided a good transition between the delicate Au Revoir Simone and the dancing ball of energy that is Voxtrot.
Voxtrot took the stage last led by front man Ramesh Srivastava. The insanely popular and catchy ‘Kid Gloves’ was played early on, setting the bar for a set filled with Srivastava’s emotionally charged lyrics paired with the bands pop rock instrumentals. Despite his constant apologies for being sick and performing with a fever, he bounced around on the stage like it was a trampoline and kept the energy up all night. Ramesh closed the show with a solo encore performance, which, after numerous technical difficulties and prodding from the audience was a satisfying end to a stellar show.
The Mohawk Place has a long history of providing WNY with great live independent music, and Sunday’s show was no exception. Visit their website for a peek at what else they’re offering this summer: www.mohawkplace.com
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